$250,000 bond for man charged in umpire attack

A Cook County judge set bond at $250,000 Thursday for a man charged with attacking an umpire during a White Sox game, saying he wants to stop such behavior.

Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Ford said he was disturbed by Eric Dybas' conduct during Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. He called Dybas' actions "incendiary" and "an effort to show off."

"That place was filled with people. Anything could have happened," Ford said. "Somebody has to say no to this conduct, and it's going to be me."

Dybas, 24, of Bolingbrook was charged with one count of felony aggravated battery and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass in the case. If convicted, he faces two to five years in prison, Ford said.

Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said Dybas told police he saw two people run on the field before him. In all, four people charged onto the field during the game. The other three were charged with misdemeanors because they did not attack anyone.

"He wanted to one-up them and run onto the field and do something more outrageous," Scaduto said.

Dybas, who remains in custody, appeared in court via a television monitor but said nothing. He wore a bloody T-shirt and had a bandage on his head.

His attorney, Frank Kostouros, said Dybas was drinking at a Chicago Cubs game earlier Tuesday and at the White Sox game later that night before he tried to tackle umpire Laz Diaz.

"This was a regrettable, alcohol-motivated stunt," Kostouros said.

Outside court, Kostouros called the bond "oppressive." He said Dybas has been unemployed since December, has an alcohol problem and is dealing with his mother's breast cancer. "He knows he made a stupid mistake," Kostouros said.

The incident was a reminder of a September incident in which Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa was attacked.